Appointment of GB Chief Judge is challenged in the Supreme Court

The judicial Hullabaloo continues in Gilgit-Baltistan as the recent appointment of the Chief Judge of GB apex court has been challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Ghulam Abbas, chairman Gilgit-Baltistan National Moment (GBNM) has filed a petition in the supreme court of Pakistan seeking an injunction against the appointment and a stay order on the oath taking ceremony of the new judge.

The petitioner has contended that the appointment of the retired judge in the court of last resort is illegal and against the basic human rights of the people of Gilgit as per the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009.

The writ petition filed through Advocate Ikram Chaudhry has contended that the appointment of Chief Judge is against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order which constitutes:

“At any time when the office of Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan is vacant, or the Chief Judge, is absent or unable to perform the functions of his office due to any other cause, the next senior Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court to act as Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan.”

The petitioner has pleaded the highest court of Pakistan to declare the appointment null and void and issue a stay-order against the oath-taking ceremony of the judge which is likely to proceed on 8th of this month.

Social and political circles in Gilgit-Baltistan disapprove re-employment of retired judges – for fear of politically motivated selective justice— in Gilgit-Baltistan by federal government without any respect to the Self Rule Ordinance.

It is to be mentioned here that the Chief Justice of Pakistan earlier has disapproved the re-employment of senior judges expecting them to retire gracefully and regard the independence of judiciary.

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Write/Report for DT

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